Convertible automobile-body construction



r c. n. WILLIAMS. CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE 'BOD.Y CONSTRUCTION- APPLIC ATION FILED AUG-19,4919.

1,377,165. Y Patented May 3, 1921.

INVENTOR Charles David 144'! Ziams -JWI\TTORNEY UNITED stares rarest orries.

CHARLES DAVID WILLIAMS, or. NEW YORK, N. Y., tassrerioit 'ro ADAMS-WILLIAMS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, a eoaronarion OF NEW YQRK.

CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE-BODY CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Original application filed January 11, 1918, Serial No. 71,516. Divided and this application filed August g 19, 1919. Serial No. 318,498.

To all whom it may. concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES DAVID WIL- LIAMS,2L citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State I of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements 1n Convertible 'Autopearance, and easy to applytovarious types of open touring cars during manufacture or after completed and in use. The construction is particularly designed for securing panels which have a pear of depending lugs preferably in the plane of the body of the panel and adapted to be rigidly clamped in separate sockets. -As an important feature of my invention I provide a pair of socket members, each having its own clamping member and mount and conceal these socket members beneath a finishing or molding strip. As a further important feature, I provide a strip which may be detachably secured to the upper edge of the'automobile body section and which'carries with itthe' socket and clamping members. fThus the strips may be made up of the proper length and may be readily applled to an automobile. without requiring material change 1n the latter or the services of an expert or body builder. In the accompanying drawingsl have illustrated one form which my invention may assume.

In these drawings: I

Figure 1 is a perspective'view of a por tion of a vehicle body with panels clamped in place.

' Fig. 2 is a vertical section in the plane of the clamping members. V 5

. Fig. 3 is a top plan viewiof one end of a molding strip.

Fig. I is a perspective view of one of the 7 socket members, and I V Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of one corner of a. panel.

I I have illustrated my invention as applied to automobile, having a stationary body wall section 10 and a movable body.

wall section '11 constituting a door; The

wall sections carry panels 12 and 18, each including a glass body portion 14 and a rigid metal frame 15. The frame is preferably formed of channel members and in the plane able section 11. have not illustrated the construction of the top which engages with the upper edges of the panels when the latter are in place-but it'will of course be evident that the construction of the top might be and preferably is such that a less rigid form of connection is necessary for the panel 12 carried by the stationary wall section than is necessary for the panel 13 carried bythe movable wall section or door. In other words, my invention is particularly'adapted for use on the vehicle door but may also be employed on the stationary wall 10.

In the specific form illustrated, I provide a pair of socket members 17 one of which is illustrated in perspective in Fig. 4.

roles or other means for rigidly securing it to the frame of thevehiele wall and an inverted U-shaped portion 19 having a lug aperture 20 substantially'flush with the inner surface of the outer or depending wall portion 21'of the U. This wall portion 21 be vertical or inclined in either direction so that when the panel sockets are inserted in the apertures20 and forced against the inner surface of the wall 21,the panels .willstand rigid at'the desired angle and properly engage with the top. In Fig. 2.1 have shown the panel tilted inwardly so that when the door is closed the upper edge of the panel will be forced firmly against the frame or other part of the top.

,Two of these socket members 17 are di vided, and are spaced apart to a distance corresponding to the distance between the two lugs of the panel. The two socket members are covered by a molding strip 22 which may be of curved form, ornamented, or otherwise formed to present an attractive appearance, and preferably have approximately the contour of the socket members 17. The molding strip is preferably welded or otherwise rigidly secured to-the two sockets so as to carry the latter and permit of the entire device to be manufactured and applied directly to the body wall. For securing the strip in place, screws 23 may be employed which will extend through the screw holes and base portion 18 of each socket member and into the body wall and thus not'only hold all of the parts to the body wall but hold them together in case they are not welded or otherwise secured together. To aid in giving a more attractive appearance, I preferably employ disks or closure members 24: which are inserted in the ends ot the molding strip against the ends of the socket member so to conceal the latter from view. Thcsemay be welded or soldered to the molding strip or the socket members or to both.

Each socket member has a threaded aperture in the wall thereof opposite to the wall 21 and adapted to receive a clamping member25 in the form of a screw, the inner end of which will engage with the side 01": the lug l6 and fo"ce the latter firmly against the wall 21 of the socket. The molding strip of course has apertures registering with the apertures 20 of thesocket members and also has apertures registering with the threaded openings which receive the screws 25. The molding strips may be manufactured in long sections and cut up into the desired length, dependent upon the width of the wall sections of the body and the socket members maybe made up in large quantities, and the pair secured to each molding strip after the latter has been cut to the proper length. The comparatively low portion of the strip and socket members provides a suitable base for the attaching screws 23 while the higher or raised portion presents not only the approximately vertical wall 21 of the desired width and against which the panel lugs are clamped but also provides a wall above all the shallow and lower parts and through which the clamping screws may extend so that these screws need not project out to any objectionable degree from the body wall. The molding strip preferably has a l sit or ridge 26 extending lengthwise thereof or approximately flush with the inner surface of the lug sockets so as to lie adjacent to the inner surface or the panel and thus pre vent rain, wind, or dust from beating under the edge of the panel. In some constructions I might make the'molding strip of Very much thicker and rigid material than that shown and thus avoid the necessity for the separate socket members, although preferably the molding strip is comparativeiy thin sheet metal and the socket members constitute reinforcements for the portions which receive and clamp the panel lugs. It is not at all essential that the molding strip be of a width equal to the thickness of the adjacent portion of the door or other wall section to which it is secured or that it be curved to follow the curvature of such wall section. The strips may be made of uniform and standard width and straight, and may be permitted to project beyond the surface of the wall section. This does not detract from the rigidity of the construction as the base portions of the socket members lie flat on the supporting part. In applying my improved construction to a complete automobile body, I may in some instances, apply the molding strip directly to the upper surface of the top edge of the wall section but preferably I remove any molding strip which may have been employed in the original construction and replace it by my improved device.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is:

1. A convertible automobile body, including a wall section, a removable panel having a plurality of depending lugs, a plurality of separate members rigidly secured to the upper edge of said wall section and each having a lug receiving socket therein, separate means for clamping each lug within its corresponding socket, and a molding strip extending over said members to cover the same and having lug receiving apertures registering with said sockets.

2. In combination, a wall section, a removable panel having a pair of depending lugs, a pair of socket members secured to the upper edge of said wall section at spaced points and each having a lug receiving socket, a molding strip extending lengthwise over said members to inclose the latter, and having apertures registering with the sockets of said members, and separate means for clamping each lug within its socket.

3. In combination, a Wall section, a removable panel, having a pair of depending lugs, a pair of members secured to the u per edge of said wall section at spaced points, and each having a lug receiving socket and a threaded aperture, a molding strip extending lengthwise of said wall section over said members to inclose and con,- ceal the latter, and having apertures registering with said sockets and with said threaded apertures and screws within said threaded apertures for clamping each lug within its socket. V k i 4:. In combination, a wall section, a removable panel, having a pair of depending lugs,-'a molding strip extending lengthwise of said Wall section along the upperedge" ing lug of said panel, and means for clamp-P ing the lug within the socket.

5. In combination, a member adapted to i be secured to the upper edge of a wall section, having a lug receiving socket therein and a clamping member'extending into said socket for clamping engagement with the lug in the latter, and a molding strip extending lengthwise over said memberand having an aperture registering with said socket, and an aperture registering with said clamping member.

6. In combination, a member having a lug receiving socket extending substantially vertically and a threaded passage extending substantially horizontally to said socket, a clamping member extending through said aperture, and a molding strip covering said member and having separate apertures registering with said socket, and threaded passa e.

3. In combination, a molding strip having a pair of lug receiving apertures, and a pair of screw receiving apertures adjacent thereto, clamping screws extending through said second mentioned apertures, and reinforcing members secured to the underside of said strip and carried thereby.

8. In combination, a molding strip having a pair of lu'g receiving apertures, and a pair of screw rece ving apertures adjacent thereto, clamping screws extending through said second mentioned apertures, reinforcing members secured to the underside of said strip and carried thereby, and eachpresenting a threaded screw carrying part and a wall against ,which said screw may clamp the panel lug.

9. A convertible automobile body, including a wall section, a removable panel having a transparent section and a frame rigid therewith, and presenting a pair of spaced depending lugs in the same plane, a pair of members secured to the upper edge of said wall section and each having a lug receiving socket extending substantially vertically, a I

threaded passage extending to said socket, and a threaded clamping screw extending through each passage and having one end terminating in said socket.

10. A convertible automobile body, in-

cluding a wall section, a removable panel having a transparent section and a frame;

rigid therewith, andpresenting a pair of spaced depending lugs in the same plane, a pair of members secured to the upper edge of said wall section and each havinga lug I receiving socket extending substantially vertically, a threaded passage extending to said socket, a threaded clamping screw extend-i ing'through "each passage and having ane end terminating in's'aid socket, and amold ing strip extending lengthwise of said wall sectionand cover'ing'and. concealing said members; s

a sheet of glass, a rigid rectangular supporting frame, and a pair of depending lugs in the plane thereof, a pair of separate spaced members secured to the upper edge of said wall section, each having a lug receiving socket and a threaded passage intersecting the same, and clamping screws extending through each of said passages and adapted to engage with the sides of said lugs to press the latter against the I of said members and adapted to engage Withsaid lugs when the latter are within said sockets, and a molding strip extending along the upper edge of said wall section and covering said members, and having aper- V I *11. v A convertible automobile body, includ ing a wall section,-a removable panel having tures registering with said socketsand said I clamping screws. I

13..An article. of manufacture, comprising a strip adapted to be secured along the upper edge of a vehicle body wall section, and having a pair of sockets, and a pair of clamping screws intersecting said sockets, and separate reinforcing members secured to and concealed by said strip.

14. An article of manufacture, comprising a strip adapted to be secured along the upper edge of a vehicle body wall section, and having a pair of sockets, and a pair of clamping screws intersecting said sockets, and separate reinforcingmembers secured to and concealed by said strip and having sockets and threaded apertures registering with thesockets and screws of said strips.

15. In combination, a vehicle body, a plurality of side panels each having a plurality of depending lugs at its lower edge, molding strips extending along the upper edge of said body and each of a length substantially equal to the width of the corresponding panel, and having an upstanding longitudinally extending flange on one side of they plane of the corresponding panel and spaced recesses adapted toreceive said lugs, means for securing said molding strips to the upper edge of said body and separate means for securing said lugs within said recesses.

16. In combination, a panel having a rigid frame presenting depending lugs, a

molding strip formed of: sheet metal having reinforced sections adjacent opposite ends 1 and recesses within said reinforced sections i upper edge of a vehicle body wall, and lockmg screws extending laterally through said molding strips at said reinforced sections for engagement with said lugs to. lock said 10 panel rigid with said molding strip.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 13th day of August, A. D. 1919. i

CHARLES DAVID WILLIAMS, 

